Each year The Manufacturer MX Awards aim to recognise great achievements in the industry. Entries are invited for a number of different categories, with the ultimate title of ‘Manufacturer of the Year’ presented to a company that is strong across the board.

The winner of this year’s ‘Manufacturer of the Year’ title was announced in November and Dura Automotive took home the award. The company also returned to the office with awards for ‘People and Skills’, ‘World Class Manufacturing’ and ‘Sustainable Manufacturing’, so it was well worth attending the event!

Investment in Employees, Quality and Sustainability

Dura Automotive are an international company that design and manufacture control systems for the automotive industry. They may be a large operation, but the awards they won clearly illustrate what it takes to grow a successful business; investment in employees, quality and sustainability.

If you take a look on their website, you will see that their objectives are to ‘inspire drivers, customers, our people, the competition and stakeholders through innovation and performance’.

They understand that in order to deliver full customer satisfaction, they need to deliver high quality products. To do that, they need to stay ahead of the competition with innovative ideas, products and processes, staff training and development opportunities and a positive, customer focused vision. In addition, they understand the importance of integrating sustainability into every aspect of their business.

Sustainable Manufacturing

Sustainable manufacturing focuses on minimising the negative outcomes of production. The overriding aim is to lower the environmental impact of manufacturing and distribution, yet the real benefits to business come from the fact that in working towards sustainability is a process of continuous improvement.

Many manufacturers have been incentivised to take action. On the receiving end of Government initiatives or in a bid to reduce energy, water and waste management costs, more companies have been willing to consider sustainable options. Whilst they may have started off thinking of this as a tick box exercise, the real benefits of taking action soon become apparent. Huge savings have helped many companies to remain competitive in the global market, have paid for other investments or have boosted profits.

Flow Monitoring

When it comes to water and energy use, flow monitoring has proved valuable in running processes at optimised levels, improving quality control, minimising waste and reducing downtime due to problems in the process. This has supported significant cost savings in storage, processing, waste management and utility bills.

By investing in low cost ultrasonic flow meters, which retrofit to the exterior of pipework, flow monitoring can be straight forward to implement. Calibrated to the specific flow range of the liquid or gas that passes through the pipe, the ultrasonic flow meter provides data that quickly identifies when abnormal flow rates are detected. This acts as an early warning system, so the issue can be quickly identified and rectified.

The ultrasonic flow meter also supports the optimisation of the process, which can be highly effective in quality control. This has been widely used to reduce waste batches and waste management costs in food, pharmaceutical and automotive industries, to name but a few.

All of these potential cost savings from an affordable ultrasonic flow meter certainly justify investment in monitoring technology. Other low cost devices including tap aerators and rainwater harvesting systems have also helped UK businesses to gain a lot more than environmental credentials.

Recycled Materials

Another area in which Dura Automotive have invested is in research and developments around the use of recycled materials in their products. When manufacturers consider reusing materials rather than raw supplies, it can present a number of challenges. Being open minded to these challenges can lead to innovative thinking, fresh ideas and approaches which could open up new avenues for the product or company.

The use of recycled materials does depend on sufficient quantities being provided by a reliable source. Having said this, if a large scale operation such as Dura can find viable alternatives to raw materials, then a bit of research could lead to suitable supplies for smaller businesses.

There is often a cost in processing the material to ensure it is of a suitable standard for reuse. Companies may need to explore partnerships with other companies and other collaborative approaches to ensure that cost effective and convenient options are found.

Sustainable Advantages

Like Dura Automotive, the majority of the other manufacturing award winners also placed considerable emphasis on sustainability. If you want to see your company going from strength to strength, a greener approach could deliver many tangible advantages.

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I am sure you are using one of them, like almost everyone else doe’s including me. As you become aware about some things, most likely you will be making changes the way you use a cellular phone from the information and awareness you be reading about.

There are as many as over 7 billion mobile phone subscriptions worldwide. Continued research to clarify any health risks coming from cell or mobile phones is ongoing. The first thing to come to mind is electronic radiation such as changes to sleep patterns and brain activity. Lots of evidence demonstrates that radiation from cell phones is a real danger.

Many different researches over years have confirmed that long-term exposure to cell phone radiation is a significant risk to health. Such findings of course are strongly denied by the other side of that argument, depending on which side of the argument you listen to. Debates like this have been ongoing for years and most likely will never be settled. After all, why would designers and manufacturers admit to any danger coming from phone usage? This would certainly kill the goose that lays the golden eggs!

The international agency for research, which is part of the world health organization released a statement over five years ago and declared cell phones a class B Carcinogen.

Long Term Exposure: How Long Is Too Long?

Whatever the brand name, I Phone, blackberry, android, tablets, Smartphone’s or just a basic flip phone has revolutionized communication in the 21st century. Some people spend as much as 2 ½ hours or more on the phone daily. Because cell phones are providing an efficient and easy way to communicate, but at the same time this can also take a toll on health.

The possible effect of a long-term heavy use of any mobile phone and the length of each call matters. The amounts of time people use cell phones are important factors which enhance the health related risk. The amount of radio frequency energy from a mobile phone use being released depends on different factors, such as distance from face and ear, the type of phone used, and the distance between cell phone towers.

What these findings are telling us: Make your conversation on a cell phone as short as possible or better still use a hand free device which places more distance between your head and the phone. Turn off the phone when not in use. Use the speaker phone when possible. Keep your phone away from your body as much as you can. Never use your phone while driving or even worse texting; this puts you and others in a potentially dangerous situation.

Children Are More Vulnerable

Children have the potential being at greater risk and affected in different ways. The brain of a child is not fully developed until the age of around 20. This makes any exposure to electronic radiation and radio frequency more dangerous for children than for adults. The other issue which affects a big percentage of children as well as teenagers is eye vision. Looking at mobile screens, what is it doing to kids’ eyes? Almost at any age children love playing with smart phones but what are the long-term effects?

Unfortunately some people are using such gadgets as baby sitters for the children without being aware of the damage it does. Children like to watch things close up on screen which is contributing to spike in becoming short-sighted. Studies have shown there is an alarming increase that affects many children between 10 and 12 years old and the amount has doubled over the last decade. The fact is: The more kids watch things close up on screen, the more they put their eyes in danger.

It is most common for children to develop myopia which gives a blurry long-distance vision. Myopia can also increase the risk of other eye problems in adulthood as well, including cataracts and blindness. However, most of the myopia cases are as young as six and 15 to 18, of course genetics play a role in severity in this.

As a guide, reduce screen time to as little of 2 hours per day from 2 to 5 year olds. There should only be a small increase of time allowed for older ones. Actually in Taiwan, if a child under the age of 2 has been found with a tablet or playing with any cell phone the parents will get a heavy fine.

Children who spent more time outdoors in fresh air and sunshine have a far lower rate of myopia. Limit the screen time, encourage kids to spend more “green time” hours in nature outdoors for better health. Make sure to include a colorful veggie diet from leafy greens which contain lutein, this is known to help eye sight and vision.

In General Common Sense Applies

A cell or mobile phone for most people has been one of the most revolutionary developments in time. It is a great communication tool being able to carry it with you wherever you go. It is a good security and emergency device that can save lives. So, what is wrong with all of those gadgets?

Could it be just the one who is using it creating that problem?

There are too many people going to the extreme and don’t know what is any longer normal or reasonable. That also applies to our food intake, beverages, including alcohol, and tobacco etc. All of those are not, or less harmful if used in moderation. If only used for short time this also can apply to cellar or mobile phones, and can reduce the risk factor as much as eighty percent.

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If a Florida vacation is in your future, then find out if you’re eligible for these travel discounts in the Sunshine State. Although they are relatively easy to get, if you don’t know how or where to apply for them, you’ll totally miss out on some hefty savings.

Save at the Toll Booth

First and foremost, if you have a significant dexterity disability, you may be eligible for a free pass when it comes to Florida’s toll roads. The Disabled Toll Permit saves drivers both time and money; and although it’s often overlooked by visitors, it’s easy to obtain if you meet the minimum qualifications.

In order to qualify for a Disabled Toll Permit you must have:

A valid driver’s license
An upper limb or dexterity disability that prevents you from tossing coins into a toll booth basket
An adapted vehicle
The permit is valid for five years, and it can be used at manned toll booths throughout the state. Just show the toll booth operator your permit, and you’re good to go. For more information about the Disabled Toll Permit, call (800) 983-2435.

Once you receive your Disabled Toll Permit, you can also apply for a Sun Pass non-revenue mini transponder. There is a $4.95 fee for this electronic device that attaches to the windshield, and allows users to pass through unmanned toll booths at no charge.

For more information about a Sun Pass non-revenue mini transponder, call the Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged at (561) 488-5344.

State Park Savings

Additionally, veterans with a service-connected disability can receive a free military entrance pass, good for admission to all Florida State Parks. This lifetime pass is valid for park admission of up to eight people, except at Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife and Weeki Wachee Springs parks, where it’s good for up to two people.

Valid driver’s license.
Documentation from Department of Defense or another appropriate agency of service-connected disability.
DD Form 214 showing honorable discharge.
The military entrance pass can only be obtained in person at any Florida State Park. Surviving Spouses and parents of US military members who have died in combat are also eligible for this pass.

Honorably discharged veterans can also receive a 25% discount on individual or family passes. These passes, which are valid for one year, are good for admission to all parks. A valid driver’s license and a DD Form 214 are required to get the discount; and like the military entrance pass, it can only be obtained in person.

And if you don’t qualify for either of those passes, but you plan to visit a number of Florida State Parks, you can still save some money by purchasing an individual or family annual pass. These passes are good for one year and they can be purchased at any state park entrance. The individual pass is priced at $60, while the family pass costs $120.

So plan ahead, bring your documentation, and rack up some savings on your next Florida vacation.

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Cruises are some of the most exciting vacations you can choose to enjoy. They offer unbeatable value because you do not have to think about constant transportation needs from place to place and neither do you have to pay costly airfares to your destination. The cruises give you the chance to enjoy refreshing sea air helping you relax and simply enjoy the warm ocean breezes whenever. With so many ports scattered around the world, you can place a cruise travel to visit areas that you have always wanted to visit.

If you love water and water activities, then cruises will prove to be most rewarding to you. But then to enjoy the most pleasant experience you still need to plan properly for your cruise. When everything is in order from the initial stages, then you are bound to enjoy a fulfilling vacation on a ship.

1. Know the number of people cruising with you

If it is just a few of you, then planning should be easy, but you will need a lot more planning and coordination when you plan to travel with more family members and friends. If you are bringing children along, then you need to make sure that the cruise package has plenty of activities for them too. You can plan for a private kind of cruises or you can choose to pay for cruises that accommodate lots of other people headed the same direction you are. The important thing is to choose what works for you and the people you are tagging along.

2. Choose the best cruise length

Cruise packages differ in length and the vacation time you have available should help you select the length that is most suitable. A cruise can be only a few days or you can choose one that goes for a week and more. A weekend cruise can be a great choice for those with little time to spare. With so many destinations and packages, you should be able to plan a cruise length that you can afford and enjoy to the fullest.

3. Pick the best stateroom

People have different preferences when it comes to cruises and your stateroom choices should be guided by your vacation preferences. For instance, if what you dream of is lounging in a private balcony as you enjoy the gracious tropical views, then a balcony stateroom is the ideal selection. Couples can cruise in a suite or a penthouse to get the most from the cruise vacation. If you are a little pressed on a budget, then you can always settle for an inside stateroom. Some cruise packages can offer you additions such as 24 hour butler for your luxury experience.

4. Consider onboard activities

Even when you are going on a romantic cruise vacation, you will definitely need activities to fill your time on board. Find out what activities you will find on-board and how exciting they will make your cruise. Spa services, wine tasting, bingo, culinary demonstrations, live entertainments and others are some of the most popular on most cruises.

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Ravioli, Tiramisu and lush red wine- we all know how amazing all of these things are in Italy. But another thing that Italy is famous for are its beautiful and renowned travel destinations. This country is filled with remnants of the Roman Civilization and extraordinary architecture from the past. What most of us don’t know is that Italy is actually home to the largest number of UNESCO World Heritage sites. Literally everything in this country is worth seeing. But for those of us, who don’t want to or don’t have enough time to go through the whole countryside, here is a list of places you can visit to ensure you get the best of Italy:

1. The Leaning Tower Of Pisa:
This architectural beauty is actually a mathematical phenomenon that still confuses many brilliant minds. The tower of Pisa, famous for its incline is actually a wonder of the world which the most important reason for you to see it. And if you’re a fan of archeology then that’s an added bonus as well. People from all over the world come here all year round to view this. And if you’re planning to go to Italy as well make sure you book your tickets using Alaska Airlines.

2. The Colosseum:
The Roman Colosseum is also one of the Wonders of the world and is the largest amphitheatre in the world. This was created by the prehistoric Roman Leaders and is one of the biggest mementos of the Roman Civilization. It has more than 80 entrances and can house more than 50,000 people at one time. This amphitheatre was actually made as a center of sports and entertainment and has hosted several such events throughout history. However, its condition has deteriorated significantly over time due to natural disaster and climatic conditions.

3. Venice:
The city of Gondolas and water, Venice is a sight to behold for anyone who loves water. The city is famous worldwide for its beauty and the fact that it has been built completely on water. If you’re a romantic at heart, then this is the one place that you should definitely not miss out on. The structures here are comprised of over 150 canals in such an intricate manner that further enhances the beauty of the city.

4. Piazza Del Campo:
The city of Tuscany is home to one of the most beautiful and magnificent medieval squares – The Piazza Del Campo. This seems to be very common in Italy, but this structure also has some of the beautiful architecture that has been seen in the world. Twice or thrice a year a horse race is hosted here which involves circling the Piazza Del Campo and that is definitely a sight to see.

So book your ticket to Italy today using Alaska Airlines and remember to have a lot of fun and stress less holiday!!!

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If you have made up your mind and you are 100% certain about starting a home business, then you might have in mind what product or service you want to market. You should also know that for the first two years you will be devoted to making your business grow. If you are willing to take a huge risk such as this, you will need to be motivated, determined and confident. There are numerous obstacles that you could run into if you don’t take the necessary precautions.

To work your way through the start-up of your business you will need to take the following steps

SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats). By knowing and using this method, you will be aware of what competition you are facing, where your business can grow, and you will get a better understanding of the business market.

Form a business plan. Forming a business plan can be overwhelming and slightly confusing. A business plan should include the audience that will be looking at your plan, an outline of the business plan, a collection of research and data, a general abstract of the market, an inquiry profile, finances, and finally the executive summary.
Funds for the business startup. Do you have the resources needed to start the business or do you need to find the money or money lender?

Naming your business. What will be the name of your business? This is a crucial and significantly important element.

Electing your business structure. Sometimes people get confused due to the business types. You will need to elect the right business partners. The choice you make will cause an impact on your business.

The license and permit. This entails registering your business, you might also need a business identification number, and may also include other tax licenses and zoning permits.

The location. This step also entails many minor tasks such as finding the right location for your business, buying office supplies and equipment and designing your business place.

The insurance. You are responsible for any risks associated to your business. Getting a business insurance will protect your office of any disasters or litigations that could occur.

Lastly, create an accounting system. Many individuals that want to start their own business tend to fail because they get caught up with location and buying supplies and other details that they forget to keep an account of money going in and out. A good option would be to hire a professional accountant that will keep track of the businesses finances.

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Gaskets are one of the basic elements for preventing the leakage, mist formation, and spray outs after the flange guards. They are installed at the flange joints, pipelines or valve joints, etc. to prevent the leakage of the harmful gasses and liquids from the gap between the joints. The gaskets are proven to seal the gap between the surfaces of the joints and provide better protection at an affordable price. They bear the high pressure of the high-temperature chemicals and have corrosion resistance properties. They are used in many industries like automotive, aerospace, chemical industries, electronics, military industries, pharmaceuticals and appliances.

The Types Of The Loads That A PTFE Ring Gasket Bear Are As Follows:-

The initial compressive load is the bolt load which pulls the gasket material into surface defects to form a strong seal.
The hydrostatic end force which tends to separate the surfaces of the flange joints when the arrangement is over pressurized.
The internal load pulling the part of the gasket exposed to inner force. It tends to blow the seal out of the joint.
The various metals and materials are used to make gaskets which can meet the demand of various industries. The range covers non-metallic, semi-metallic and metallic gaskets. The industries mostly install PTFE ring gaskets which are made up of a material and provide better performance in the operation.

This type of the gaskets used widely in the chemical industries and pharmaceuticals because it avails numerous benefits, besides acting as the protective seal for the leakage. It reduces friction to provide a rigid usability and avoid any of the damage or failures.

There Are Many Factors That Are Affecting The Performance Of The Gaskets:-

The Flange Load – The pressure on the two surfaces of flange joints churns the product and compresses the gasket to create an even tighter seal. The gaskets are enough tough to bear this load and the bolts of the joints should be tightened enough to create a perfect seal.

Temperature – The high temperature sometimes affects the efficiency of the product, but the gaskets are made of the high-grade material which is actually temperature resistant.

Fluid – The chemicals flowing through the pipelines is highly corrosive in nature and the liquids are harder to sell in comparison to the gas. The PTFE ring gaskets seal the liquid and prevent it from flowing outside. The product also prevents the contamination of the liquid.

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Almost everyone has some form of social media whether it be for business or fun, people can pretty much find anyone they want to find and check them out. In this article, you are going to learn how using social media can affect your MLM business.

Social media can be a great asset to you and help you attract more team members and customers or social media can make people run from you like you have a disease. Before you post something on social media, just remember that unless you have a certain privacy setting on your content, anyone will be able to see it. The truth is that if you post it on the internet, people that you might not want to see it can probably get to it anyway.

When you are serious about building an MLM business, you have to run a great media company. You need to be able to show people who you are in a good light so they will be proud to work with you. Would you partner in business with someone if you weren’t proud to work with them? Probably not.

Clean It Up

I can’t tell you how many times I go to people’s social page just to find out that I cannot find one picture of them on their timeline. Many times their profile picture is a dog, cat or one of their kids. Since I have no idea who this person is or why they want to be friends, I just ignore the invite.

If you want to have people accept your friend requests or request to be friends with you then you want to have a clean social profile so that people know what who is behind the profile.

Controversy

If you want to build a strong social presence then you don’t want to be arguing with people back and forth over controversial topics. Save that for your close friends because no one wins an internet back and forth.

Now you know how social media can affect your MLM business. I hope you clean it up and are using social media in a way that can help your business and not hurt your business.

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With many different social media platforms to choose from, your head may be spinning and you could be confused about which ones to use and why you would use them. In this article, we are going to talk about how to make social media an asset for your network marketing business.

Network marketing is very much a business of influence and emotion. If people don’t feel like working with you or they don’t feel like buying from you then they won’t. There are plenty of other people they can find your product and service through and that is why you want to use social as an asset to get in front of more people and help them choose you.

Building Know, Like & Trust

If people feel like they know, like and trust you because they have been following you on social, they are much more likely to buy from you than someone they just met. Social media can be used to share inspiring messages, family photos, dreams, and goals. Share these things with people and you they will be more likely to do business with you. This is one of the ways to make social an asset for your business.

Getting In Front of More Eyeballs

Social media helps you get in front of more people. Having a consistent social presence will help you leverage this virtual real estate to share your message with people. Instead of having to run around all over the place in your car, you can find people through social media and generate sales and new team members online.

It is very simple to be able to build social media into an asset but you have to be consistent. You at least want to post once a day so that you can stay top of mind with your audience.

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The world around is filled with all kinds of wonders and we can gaze at them only by opening our eyes and our hearts. After all you need to believe in magic to be able to believe it. However, if you’re someone who is a bit on the cynical side, we bring to you a list of the wonders that exist all around the world. If you are a fan of archeology, history or travelling you’re definitely going to enjoy this article. Oh and if you plan to travel after reading this, don’t forget to look into Cathay Asia Airlines.

1. The Great Pyramid of Giza
The crown jewel of Egypt and the only surviving architecture from the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, this pyramid is truly a sight to behold. This pyramid is said to be built as a tomb to the Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu. The building is approximately 480 feet tall and was the tallest building in the world for more than 3800 years. This pyramid when built was outlined with a limestone casing which with time got destroyed. Now you can only see the casing near the bottom of the pyramid whereas the top exposes us to the inner lining of the pyramid.

2. Petra, Jordan
Petra is often called the city of rose due to the red colored stones that it is made of. This beautiful hidden city is famous for its architectural grace and the water conduit system. Even though the city is located in Jordan, it was actually discovered by a Swiss explorer in the early 19th century. This place is also said to have structures that are more than 2000 years old.

3. Christ the Redeemer, Rio De Janeiro
This miracle took a total of nine years to be constructed due to the its location on the top of a cliff. This is the third largest statue of Jesus in the world. The raw materials for this statue were actually imported from Sweden. This beautiful statue was actually constructed as a sign of peace, to show that Christ loves everyone.

4. The Great Wall of China
This wall that stretches over 8000 kilometers was built over a period of 2000 years and renovated over time by many different Chinese dynasties. It is said that millions of people died while building the wall and that they’re buried within the Wall’s foundations. The Wall is also famous because it is the only structure on Earth that can be seen from the moon without any aids. Fascinating right? Go check it out yourself!

5. The Colosseum
This fighting ground of the roman gladiators took 8 years to build and was designed by the Roman Poet Virgil. The Colosseum has more than 80 entrances and can house 50,000 people at one time. It receives millions of visitors every year and is therefore the biggest tourist attraction in Rome.

6. The Leaning Tower
This beautiful tower located in Pisa is famous because of the way it inclines with height. The architecture has been constructed in a way that makes it feel tilted. If you’re ever in Italy, this is a must place to go to.

7. Taj Mahal
Constructed by an emperor in the memory of his beloved wife, this palace is a symbol of love for the entire world. The intricate architecture and carving inside this Mahal will make you fall in love with it. And if you don’t believe us, why don’t you go see it yourself? All you have to do is book your ticket using Cathay Asia Airlines.